Cricket Betting Tips

New Zealand V Pakistan – Group F

Cricket Betting

World Twenty20 – Group F, The Brit Oval 17.30

Match Betting Preview

The bookmakers have New Zealand as the favourites in the betting for this one. Personally I have it as a close call. Neither team have beaten a Test playing nation yet and both have problems to deal with.

Pakistan showed signs of improvement against Sri Lanka in their fielding and bowling – with the exception of Sohail Tanvir – but the batting failed to turn up again with only Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan making any significent contributions. Against England, Pakistan were awful and the Dutch never turned up for the last 1st phase match.

New Zealand’s form is harder to gauge, they have beaten Ireland and Scotland but lost a dead rubber to South Africa, so far they have not a true test of their squad. The squad in question though is creaking under the strain of injuries.

Daniel Vettori hasn’t played a game yet due to a shoulder injury and Ross Taylor is also struggling with injury, both are doubtful for today’s game. Add to that Jesse Ryder being ruled out for the rest of the tournament and that is quite a substantial injury list for the Kiwi’s to handle.

Pakistan have no injury worries, just form. Salman Butt could be dropped for his fielding alone, and his batting is worse. He survived to play in the Sri Lanka match and chipped in with a three ball duck, surely he must go this time, Ahmed Shehzad could replace him today. Given Pakistan’s loyalty to failing players, Sohail Tanvir may well get another chance as well.